Minor in Spanish

Spanish is the second language of the United States, one of the three most widely spoken languages in the world, and one of the five diplomatic languages of the United Nations.

Degree Requirements

18 credits total, distributed as follows:

SPAN 214/SPAN 301 (non-heritage speakers) or SPAN 227/SPAN 300 (heritage speakers) should those courses be warranted on the basis of the placement exam. Should a student place at a higher level, additional credits will be taken in category 2, below.

15 credits of courses numbered SPAN 300 or higher, with at least 6 of those credits in Spanish literature courses.

Learning Objectives

Communication

Students will be able to engage in conversation, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions.

Students will be able to understand and interpret written and spoken language on a variety of topics.

Students will be able to present information, concepts and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics.

Cultures

Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices and perspectives of the cultures studied.

Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the products (artifacts) and perspectives of the cultures studied.

Connections

Students will be able to reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through the foreign language.

Students will be able to acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through the foreign language and its cultures.

Comparisons

Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the nature of language through comparisons of the language studied and their own.

Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of the cultures studied and their own.

Communities

Students will be able to use the language both within and beyond the school setting.

Students will be able to show evidence of becoming life-long learners by using the language for personal enjoyment and enrichment.

Career Possibilities

The world has become more interrelated. New alliances are being formed among many different countries, and e merging nations are displaying new economic and cultural strengths. In the United States, businesses are expanding their international scope and ethnic diversity is increasing. On an individual level, advances in electronic technology and ease of travel expedite communication among the citizens of the world. These developments have intensified the need to understand other cultures and to become proficient in another language.

This international dimension has also affected Las Vegas. The city has experienced a growth in visitors from a wide range of cultures. Among the minorities, Hispanics make up the largest group, with estimates placing their number at fifteen percent of the population of Southern Nevada. Working with Hispanics has become a reality for many different professionals-for those in the hotel industry, in business, in the medical profession, in the legal field, and in a wide range of social services. The need to connect with clients, customers, and patients of another culture is met not merely by acquiring language skills but also by gaining knowledge of that culture’s traditions, values, and practices.